April 5, 2010

Right about now I am very strongly wishing that I had a three day weekend for the Easter holiday like just about everyone I know. It is going to be about 73° and that is great weather for doing anything! Heading into the office is not my idea of a good time but, I gotta bring home some bacon and am getting ready for the day while fighting every urge not to wear yoga pants. Hopefully the day will go by quickly...

• Top: pink Ann Taylor Loft rosette embellished t-shirt
• Bottom: gray pinstripe wide-leg pants(via Kohl's)
• Shoes & Accesories: black pointy toe flats (via DSW), black Fendi spy bag, gray shell earrings (gift from BF's mom)

Happy Easter

So, I had mentioned that I was going to try to shop in my closet for the perfect Easter outfit as opposed to going to the store and purchasing a new one. I am sorry to say that this was not a overwhelming success.

It all started with the shoes. I have this gorgeous pair of Due Farina pale lilac sandals and was (still am) dead set on wearing them for the Easter events I have planned today. I proceeded to go through all the dresses I had in my closet that might match and while doing so I hit a few figurative snags. First of all they were all sleeveless and while the weather is going to be gorgeous today that is not entirely appropriate for church. Secondly they all showed an extreme amount of cleavage which is also inappropriate for church, as well as, life in general. Lastly, the one that I had settled on (black and white polka dot spaghetti strap sundress) encompassed my first two problems but, is also a little big so I had to wear a tank top under and a jacket over with some safety pins placed here and there... too much work.

You can now understand why when my mom mentioned that she was going to Loehmann's because she needed a shirt/dress/outfit to go with a jacket she had selected in her closet I seized the opportunity to accompany and find something for myself plus, she had asked me to give her a ride. Regardless, we made a killing there each getting outfits for Easter and my mom picked up some other items most of which will come to me after she wears them *thanks Mom*.

• Top: Calvin Klein khaki dress (via Loehmann's) wrinkled from sitting in the car for a while.
• Shoes & Accesories: Due Farina lilac sandals, Louis Vuitton Murakami Alma, V'ta watermelon tourmaline chip necklace, Tiffany silver earrings.

After that we went home and she was inspired to start clearing out her closet purging what she doesn't need, want, or wear anymore.Three shopping bags from one shelf in her closet plus some shoes (you no longer need to wonder where I got my love of clothes) and one for me *go Mom!!*. I made out like a bandit because some of the things that didn't work for her were classic enough and perfectly sized for me. Yay purge!! More items from that treasure hunt to come throughout the following weeks. If you are inspired to purge your closet and need a little help shoot me an email my keen eye, practicality, and honesty when it comes to clothes are just a few of the things I am known for amongst friends and acquaintances...

From: SheSpysTheBuys
To: You and Yours

April 2, 2010

This week has gone by very quickly, thank goodness! I am looking forward to the beautiful weather this weekend and celebrating the holiday with family and friends. Easter was always an occasion when my mom would take my brother and myself to get spiffy new Easter outfits and as an adult I still have the overwhelming urge to do just that but, in the spirit of responsibility I have opted to shop in my closet for a fabulous and appropriate outfit to wear. Perhaps I will let you have a glimpse on Sunday... as for today:

• Top: green 3/4 length scoop-neck t-shirt from Target with brown houndstooth jacket from Ann Taylor Loft.
  
• Bottom: Marisa jeans from Ann Taylor Loft. (YAY Casual Friday)
• Shoes & Accessories: brown/black snake embossed ballet flats from Target, long brass and ribbon necklace from Ann Taylor Loft with Elizabeth Showers Vintage mother of pearl earrings. I will also be keeping all my crap in a patent leather purple Coach purse. I will probably throw a pashmina in there to keep warm as I walk to my car since it's still a little nippy outside.
  

April 1, 2010

I love shopping as much as the next girl but, times are tough and even though the man says things are getting better I'm just not seeing it yet. Thankfully, I am employed but, working in an office (HR at that) there is definitely a business-casual standard that I need to meet when I dress for work in the morning. At the same time, I don't want to show up everyday in the same outfit. So, what's a girl to do about it? In-debt herself further to have all the latest things, take on extra jobs to make up the gap, borrow, steal, or make do with what she has? I will take the latter!

I have a pretty large closet... and another one for shoes. Sufficed to say I have ALOT of clothes. The vast majority of them are work appropriate so, I was thinking that I should be able to come up with enough combinations of clothes to last me for at least a year or more utilizing what I have. A different outfit for work everyday, hence 260 since that's about how many work days there are in a year. It sounds very daunting but, I think I'm up for the challenge Occasionally I might get a gift certificate, go shopping with my mom (who always buys me something *love ya mom*) or buy something myself but, it would definitely be something I have a need for since I will be hyper aware of what I have in my closet. As a person who did a significant amount of research in college I feel the need to define my terms. What I mean by an outfit is a different combination of top and bottoms (ex: Day 1 Top A and Bottom A, Day 2: Top B and Bottom A). This does not include shoes, accessories, or handbags. But, I will show them to you for the fun of it!

My goal with this is not to show off how much clothes I have or even that I can put a stylish outfit together. It is simply to show myself and others that you can make great things with what you already have not just "make-do" You don't have to go to the store and buy a whole new outfit for an event (even though that is fun) you might be able to find a dress in your closet with the tags still on it (yes, that has happened to me). And for all those times that you throw up you hands and say, "I have nothing to wear!!" I want to show that you probably do have something you haven't seen all the potential in the things you already own. Another thing that I want to show myself, and I suppose everyone could learn from it, is the use-value of my clothes (ex: basic black ballet flats that cost $12.99 are much more valuable than a prom dress that costs $199.99) I can agree that there are basic pieces that should be of higher quality because you will wear them more but, the trendy stuff that you could pay a fortune store in designer boutiques is better purchased somewhere like Target because it will be out of style next season.

Now, lets get down to business.

• Top: yellow ruffle front blouse from Ann Taylor Loft
• Bottom: gray pencil skirt from New York & Company (high use-value item I bet)
• Shoes & Accessories: brown/black snake embossed ballet flats from Target and an amazing carved bone and turquoise necklace. I will also be throwing all my crap in a patent leather purple Coach purse (not pictured).

I will try to take better pictures moving forward but, day one is very rushed. Check back tomorrow as this experiment continues!!!